Origin
Hawthorne, CA
Late night in Hawthorne on Friday
Local time
4:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hawthorne, CA to Los Angeles, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
15 mi
24 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hawthorne, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
This 15-mile drive from Hawthorne to Los Angeles is a quick 22-minute trip, making it perfect for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily travel on the Harbor Freeway and Century Freeway, with a portion on West El Segundo Boulevard. Given the short distance and duration, an overnight stay isn't necessary. The estimated fuel cost is around $3, which is quite budget-friendly for a California drive. This route stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward journey through urban and suburban landscapes.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 15 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with about 60% of the journey taking place on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.2 miles on the Harbor Freeway, providing a solid segment of consistent travel. While much of the drive involves freeway cruising, you'll also navigate some surface streets, adding variety to the driving. The overall profile suggests a blend of efficient highway travel and more typical urban road conditions.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Harbor Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 7.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 15 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 105 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 105 East
7
4.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 110 North, I 110 South: Los Angeles, San Pedro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 110 North, I 110 South: Los Angeles, S...
7
4.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 110 North: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 110 North: Los Angeles
7
12.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward 3rd Street, 4th Street, 9th Street, 6th Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 3rd Street, 4th Street, 9th Street, 6th...
10
13.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward James M Wood Boulevard, 9th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22
Toward James M Wood Boulevard, 9th Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hawthorne, CA and Los Angeles, CA, road signs point toward San Pedro and Downtown.
San Pedro
4.2 mi in
|
~6m
Downtown
12.9 mi in
|
~17m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Harbor Freeway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Century Freeway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| West El Segundo Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Crenshaw Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West 9th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| James M Wood Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Harbor Freeway
— 7.2 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hawthorne, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
1
Start on West El Segundo Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West El Segundo Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Crenshaw Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Crenshaw Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 105 East
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 105
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Century Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 110 North, I 110 South: Los Angeles, San Pedro
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 110 North: Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 110
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Harbor Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward 3rd Street, 4th Street, 9th Street, 6th Street, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 22
Toward James M Wood Boulevard, 9th Street
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto James M Wood Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
James M Wood Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Continue on West 9th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 9th Street
12
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto West 1st Street
69 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 1st Street
14
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.45 one way
$6.90 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $3.55 | $7.11 |
| premium | $6.18 | $3.65 | $7.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.31 | $6.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.31 | $0.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6 | 0 | $2.10 | $0.96 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Late night in Los Angeles on Friday
Local time
4:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
E 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 8:09PM PDT until April 17 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 8:09PM PDT until April 17 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
22m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hawthorne, CA to Los Angeles, CA covers 15 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Harbor Freeway, Century Freeway, West El Segundo Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.5 miles from Hawthorne, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.45 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 15 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Hawthorne, CA and Los Angeles, CA, road signs point toward San Pedro and Downtown.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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